Drum stand



C. CALO DRUM S TAND Dec. 30, 1947. I

Filed Aug. 22, 1946 cA/Pw' 0/140' Patented Dec. 30, 1947 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE 2,433,594 DRUM STAND Carlo Calo, Iron Mountain, Mich.Application August 22, 1946, Serial No. 692,265 1 4 Claims. (Cl. 84-421)This invention relates to improvements in drum stands, and moreparticularly to stands designed to support drums of the general typecolloquially known as snare drums and especially when the latter areused by drummers operating in fixed (non-marching) location;trap-drummers are illustrative of the type.

Trap-drummers generally are called upon to operate any of a number ofinstruments-drums, cymbals, xylophones, etc.-these including a snaredrum. Since the drummer is generally seated to permit use'of both hishands and feet, the instruments are grouped about him in such mannerthat he can readily operate any of them from his seated position.Because of this condition, it is necessary that the active drum head beso located as to its position among the instruments and at the mostefficient angle-dependent some-- what upon the selected psiti0nto permitrapid' shift between instruments and to provide efficient drummingactivity when the drum is to be active. Hence, a stand or support ispractically essential for supporting the drum.

Stands or supports for this purpose have heretofore been contemplatedand placed in service, these being of various types, but these generallyhave not been found completely satisfactory, due to a number ofconditions. For instance, the structure should be of a form as toprovide a neat and attractive appearance, since the service is such asto be within the vision of theaudience; this has led to the use ofvaried forms in an effort to provide a graceful appearance-thisgenerally including the use of legs designed to provide a large baseeffect needed to maintain the stand against tilting, etc. The structuresgenerally include means for supporting the drum per se, with the meansarranged to permit adjustment of the plane of the active drum head, thusrequiring adjustable operating connections between the standard risingfrom the base and such supporting means with the connections providingfor the adjustments; in practice, these connections have generallyprovided for off-set relationships through the connections utilized, acondition which tends to render the stand somewhat vulnerable inservice, due to the particular conditions of the service.

For instance, the drummer is required to provide-his strokes as heavy orlight depending upon the nature of the music; since the active drumheadis taut, heavy strokes by the drum sticks provide material pressureconditions on the head with an inherent reaction due to the diaphragmcharacteristic of the head. Hence, there may be excessive pressureplaced upon the stand with a tendency to provide pseudo or actualcollapse of the stand, or, through the reaction of the head to thestroke, tend to set up what is known to drummers as the bouncea tendencyto slightly raise the stand from the supporting surface, a conditionwhich tends to disturb the efiiciency of the playing, and may tend toshift the position of the stand itself, depending upon the particularplane of the activ head being employed by the performer, and in this waydisturb the desired relative positions of the instrument grouping withthe possibility of occasional shifting of the support required tocorrect the condition.

The present invention is of this general type it is capable of providingthe various adjustments needed for service conditionsbut is varied fromprior structures in such way as to practically eliminate the conditionsof bounce and of the collapse, thus rendering the structure moreefiicient in service, while producing a neat and attractive appearanceto the stand; in addition, the assembly is simple and efficient inoperation, durable in construction, and can b produced under reasonablecost conditions.

To these and other ends, therefore, the nature of which will be morereadily understood as the invention is hereinafter disclosed, saidinvention consists in the improved constructions and combinations ofparts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference charactersindicat similar parts in each of the views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a stand of the type of the presentinvention with a drum in position thereon. I

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective View on an enlarged "scale showingimportant parts of the invention, the view presenting some of the partsas broken away for the purpose of more clearly illustrating theinvention.

Figure 3 is a detail view in elevation of one form of clip for securingthe drum in position.

Figure 4 is a similar view showing a difierent form of clip assembly.

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of the ball portion of the balland socket structure.

The stand of the present invention, in its de tailed form as shown,comprises generally a floor standard of fixed vertical height, anadjusting section carried by the standard and designed to permit thevertical positioning of the drum, and

the drum-supporting section carried at the upper end of the adjustingsection. In detail, these structures are as follows:

The floor standard is in the form of a base I, shown as generally fiatand of circular form with a considerable diameter. The base carries avertically extending tubular standard H, th latter having a threaded endl2 designed to be threaded into the base within the axial zone thereof.The lower end of the-standard may have acollar- Ha and a flangeformation or washer lib-these may be an integral structure-for utilityas well as appearance, the collar and washer enlarging the lower endzone of the standard and thus tende ing to strengthen the fioor zone andtend to relieve pressure on the thread zone where-thedrum operation isunder conditions tending to provide pressure on the standard laterallyof the direction of length of the standard. The upper end of thestandard is also provided with a collar l3 carrying a set screw l4,which may be of burred formation.

The adjusting section. consists of. a tubular member l5 of: suitablelength anddesigned to fi't within standard H in. a vertically-adjustedposition, thelatter being obtainedthrough the positioning of the memberand then tightening the set screw Hi. The upper end of member I5 isformed into a cup-like zone made up of a plurality of finger i6,preferably integral with the members but formed to be variable as to cupdimensions; the fingers are preferably of suflicient elasticity as topermittheir expansion and contraction and fashioned to normally tend tomove to their expanded positions, thus providingthe top of the zone inits open position; the free end zones of the fingers, are each curvedinwardly, as at 16a, so that the cup formation tends to flare outwardlyfrom-the lower end of the fingers and then inwardly in the free end.

zones of the fingers. Between the cup-formation and the portion of themember body designed to telescope the standard is a thread zone I!which'remains exposed above thestandard.

Surrounding the cup-formation and having threaded engagement with thethreadzone i1 is an elongated tightening nut i8, the length of which issuch as to overlie the thread zone 11 and extend over theoutwardly-flared portions of the fingers l6. Internally, the nut has itslower end zone threaded to engage thread zone i1, while the upper zoneof the nut is formed with a tapered or flared face lBa which overliesthe fingers l6. Externally, the nut is provided with one or more knurledband Hlb to aid the operator in rotating the nut to tighten or releasethe fingers H5.

The cup formation serves as a socket to re ceive a ball [9 from whichextends a short arm 20, the latter being arranged to carry alaterally-extending elongated member 2|, the ends Zia of which. are bentlaterally; the length of member 2| is sufficient to permit a drum A tobe freely received between such ends; member 2| may be a single elementpassing through arm 20,. or be in two parts each of which is secured tothe arm. Ends Zia are designed to carry a clamping element 22, which maybe a pivoted element 220 as in Figures 1 and 3, or a slidable element(2217), as in Figure 4. Clamping element 22 is designed to griphead-tightening rods a or other suitable formations of the side of thedrum.

as indicated in Figure 5, ball I! preferably carries a knurled zone I90,of a desired width and extending circumferentially of the ball-thelocation of the band approximates that of an equatorial zone, assumingarm 20 to extend from one of the pole of the ball.

From the above it will be understood that because of the ball and socketformation, the drumsupporting section is rotatable throughout a range of360 whenever nut 18 is unscrewed sufficient to free the fingerengagement with the ball; also that the nut is movable sufliciently topermit the passage of the ball through the open top of the fingers 16.When, however, the nut is threaded to apply pressure on the fingers, theinner faces of the fingers will have a tight gripping engagement withthe ball, especially with the knurled zone l9a, such engagementpreventing any movement of the ball within the socket. On the otherhand, the tilting movement of this section is limited in range to thatpermitted by the arm 20 within the open topof the socket formed by thefingers; in practice, the maximum tilting range is approximately 6030 oneach side of they vertical-this controlling the maximum angle to thevertical at which the ac tive drum head may extend; withinthis range,the entire knurled zone l9a will engage the fingers l6, thus-assuringproper anchoring of the ball in its adjusted position.

In practice, the angularity of the active drum head is based somewhatupon the position the drum is to occupy among the several traps-togetherwith the personal preference of the drummer as to the angle whichpermits him to most efficiently operate his drum sticks from his seatedposition, he generally using the central zone of the head as theimpactzone on the head. Generally, when the head is inclined, the member 2| is positioned to extend from the high to the low side of thedrum, thus placing any material latera1 variation in the impactzone-possible where the drum must be, made active in rapid succession toanother trap instrumentonthe side toward the drummer.

In service, the gripping contact between the fingers l6 and the knurledzone lSa of the ball is such that the drum is definitely anchored inposition, regardless of the angle of the head, and with the grip activethroughout the equatorial zone of the ball. Hence the pressure placed onthe supporting portion of the stand is distributed throughout suchequatorial zone and. thus is generaly uniformly applied to the stand,and since the supporting portion-the base and the standardare weighty,the vibrationsv set up by the active head are ineffective to provide anymaterial bounce efiect, whether due to a sustained rufile or heavyindividual impact of drum sticks, the extended base being suflicient toprevent any material raising of any portion of the peripheral zone ofthe base; actually, the pressures, even with the head extending at anangle, tend to oppose such raising of a. base portion.

As. is apparent,v thev assembly presents a neat and attractiveappearance, the base and stand.- ard presenting a slender appearance,weighted at its lower end, the slender effect being continued up to thezone of the member 2| and thus practically in the zone of the drumitself; above the base, the only laterally-projecting structure from thestandard is the adjusting screw [4. and the projection of this isrelatively small. As a result, the general appearance of the stand isthat of a slender column. giving the. desired neat and attractiveappearance.

Not only is the appearance enhanced in this manner, but the structure isespecially suitable to provide the most efiicient service on the part ofthe drummer. As will be understood the seated drummer must extend hislegs and feet forwardly when using the drum, and since the only reallateral projection is the baseupon which a foot can rest-it can beunderstood that the performer can readily and quickly swing to positionfor drumming action without moving into contact with the standard-noparticular care need be taken in doing this since there is littleliability of disturbing the position of the stand and drum and theabsence of contact prevents any injury to the limbs of the drummer.

As will be understood, the ball and socket are axially alined with thestandard, so that the weight of the drum and the pressures developedduring service are generally applied in the direction of the base. Thisis actually true when the drum head extends in horizontal plane, anddoes not change to any material degree when the head is inclined withinthe maximum limitsreferred to. While, at the extreme limit of the range,the drumming pressure may be exerted angular to the direction of lengthof the standard-thus seeming to tend to cant the stand; such result,even at the maximum range inclination, is of no material effect, sincethe limit of inclination of arm 20 is substantially 30 to the verticalso that a material portion of the pressure is being applied in thedirection of length of the standard as well as angular to suchdirection; hence, a considerable portion of the canting pressure isbeing neutralized and thus largely reduces the effective pressureapplication in.a direction to cant the stand. And since any canting mustbecome manifest at a point on the perimeter of the base and musttherefore materially raise the central zone of the base to permit thetilting action, the weight of the stand and drum above the base isactive to resist such raising action of the stand, aside from the weightof the base itself; with a reduced pressure condition as aboveexplained, the weight more than overcomes the pressure value and thusretains the stand against tilting as well as bounce.

While I have herein shown and described a preferred form of theinvention, it will be readily understood that changes and/ormodifications therein may be found desirable or essential in meeting thevarious exigencies of service or the personal desires of individualusers; I therefore reserve the right to make any and all such changes ormodifications therein as may be so found desirable or essential insofaras the same may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention asexpressed in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A drum stand comprising a flat base of extended dimensions, anadjustable telescoping standard rising centrally from the base, adrumsupporting frame, and a ball and socket connection between thestandard and the drum supporting frame to thereby provide a support forthe drum frame and in which the support elements are axially alined andextend normal to the base plane, the ball and socket members of suchconnection being carried respectively by the standard and the drumsupporting frame with the ball carried by the drum frame and having itscenter included within such axial alinement, the ball member having anequatorial roughened zone with the drum frame extending from a polarzone of the ball, the socket member having an open top to permit lateralswing of the drum frame with a limited range, said connection includingan adjusting nut cooperative with the socket member to secure the ballmember in adjusted position relative to the socket and to release theball from the socket, the relation of ball and socket being such thatco-operation between the equatorial zone of the ball and the socket willbe present in all of the adjusted positions of the drum frame, said drumframe including an arm secured to and extending from a polar axis of theball in direction normal to such equatorial zone, said arm carrying alaterally extending element the opposite free ends of which extendangularly to the direction of length of the element and in substantialparallelism to the direction of length of said arm, said ends eachcarrying means for removably securing the drum therebetween to therebylocate the axis of the active drum head in substantial alinement withthe axis of such arm.

2. A drum stand comprising a flat base of extended dimensions, anadjustable telescoping standard rising centrally from the base, adrumsupporting frame, and a ball and socket connection between thestandard andthe drum supporting frame to thereby provide a support forthe drum frame and in which the support elements are axially alined andextend normal to the base plane, the ball and socket members of suchconnection being carried respectively by the standard and the drumsupporting frame with the ball carried by the drum frame and having itscenter included within such axial alinement, the ball member having anequatorial roughened zone with the drum frame extending from a polarzone ofthe ball, the socket member having an open top to permit lateralswing of the drum frame with a limited range, said connection includingan adjusting nut eo-operative with the socket member to secure the ballmember in adjusted position relative to the socket and to release theball from the socket, the relation of ball and socket being such thatco-operation between the equatorial zone of the ball and the socket willbe present in all of the adjusted positions of the drum frame, said drumframe including an arm secured to and extending from a polar axis of theball in direction normal to such equatorial zone, said arm carrying alaterally extending element the opposite free ends of which extendangularly to the direction of length of the element and in substantialparallelism to the direction of length of said arm, said ends eachcarrying means for removably securing the drum therebetween to therebylocate the aXis of the active drum head in substantial alinement withthe axis of such arm with the angularity of the plane of such headrelative to the vertical determined by the gripped ball andsubstantially parallel to such equatorial zone of the ball.

3. A drum stand comprising a flat base of extended dimensions, anadjustable telescoping standard rising centrally from the base, adrumsupporting frame, and a ball and socket connection between thestandard and the drum supporting frame to thereby provide a support forthe drum frame and in which the support elements are axially alined andextend normal to the base plane, the ball and socket members of suchconnection being carried respectively by the standard and the drumsupporting frame with the ball carried by the drum frame and having itscenter included within such axial alinement, the ball member having anequatorial roughened zone with the drum frame extending from a polaramsm zone or the ball, the socket member having an open top to permitlateral swing of the drum frame with a limited range, said connection'including an adjusting nut co-operative with the socket member tosecure the ball member in adjusted position relative to the socket andto release the ball from the socket, the relation of ball and socketbeing such that co-operation be tween the equatorial zone of the balland the socket will be present in all of the adjusted positions of thedrum frame, said drum frame including an arm secured to and extendingfrom a polar axis of the :ball in direction normal to suchequatorial-zone, said arm carrying a laterall xt m ing element theopposite free ends of which extend angularly to the direction of lengthof the element and in substantial parallelism to the direction of lengthof said arm, said ends each carrying means for removably securing thedrum therebetween to thereby locate the axis of the active drum head insubstantial 'alinement with the axis of such arm, said means beingpivotally connected with the element end :to which it is secured.

4. A drum stand comprising a flat base of 18X- tended dimensions, anadjustable telescoping standard rising centrally 'from'the base, adrumsupporting frame, and a ball and socket connection between thestandard and the drum :supporting frame to thereby provide a :supportvfor the drum frame and in which the support elements are axially alinedandextend normal to the base plane, the ball .and socket members :ofsuch connection being carried respectively'by the standard and the drumsupporting frame with the ball carried by the drum frame and having itscenter included within sucha-xial alinernent, the ball member having anequatorial roughened zone with itherdmm frame extendinsifrcmlawpolarzone of the ball, :the :socket "member having @an open :top to permitlateral swing of the :drum frame with a limited range, said connectionin cluding an adjusting nut co-operative with the socket member tosecure the ball member in adjusted position relative to the :socket andto release the ball from the socket, the relation of ball and socket:being such thatco-operation abetween the equatorial zone of the balland the socket will be present "in all .of 'the 'ad justed positions ofthe drum irame,saidldrum frameincluding an .arm secured to and extendingfrom a polaraxis of the ball .in direction normal to :suchequatonialzone, said arm carrying .a laterally :extending element theopposite free ends .of :which extend angularly to'the directionoflengthrgi'tthe element and in substantial parallelism to the directionof length of said "arm, said ends each carrying means for removablysecuring the :drum therebetween to thereby locate :the :axis of theactive .drurn head .tin substantial alinement with the axis of such arm,:said' means having .theiorm of a clamping rnernber'mounted on :theelement end by which it is carried, with the clamping memberadjustable-lengthwise :of suchend.

CARLO CALO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1120;364 rBell =Oct. 3.1, 18'71892,105 -White June 30, 1908 .1,239;653 Willard l Sept. 211, I917

